samual brohl & company(赛穆王·布洛公司)-第44章
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advanced to the young man； who awaited him unflinchingly； and whose
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resolute manner awed him。 He cast upon him a sinister look； turned； and
reseated himself； bit his lips until the blood came； then said in a placid
voice：
〃Will you do me the favour of telling me； monsieur； to what I owe the
honour of this visit？〃
〃I came to demand of you a portrait that Mlle。 Moriaz is desirous of
having returned。〃
〃If I refuse to give it up； you will doubtless appeal to my delicacy？〃
〃Do you doubt it？〃 ironically replied Camille。
〃That proves； monsieur； that you still believe in Count Larinski； that it
is to him you speak at this moment？〃
〃You deceive yourself。 I came to see Samuel Brohl； who is a business…
man； and it is a commercial transaction that I intend to hold with him。〃
And drawing from his pocket a porte…monnaie； he added： 〃You see I do
not come empty…handed。〃
Samuel settled himself in his arm…chair。 Half closing his eyes； he
watched M。 Langis through his eye…lashes。 A change passed over his
features； his nose became more crooked； and his chin more pointed； he no
longer resembled a lion； he was a fox。 His lips wore the sugared smile of a
usurer； one who lays snares for the sons of wealthy families； and who
scents out every favourable case。 If at this moment Jeremiah Brohl had
seen him from the other world； he would have recognised his own flesh
and blood。
He said at last to Camille： 〃You are a man of understanding； monsieur；
I am ready to listen to you。〃
〃I am very glad of it； and； to speak frankly； I had no doubts about it。 I
knew you to be very intelligent； very much disposed to make the best of
an unpleasant conjuncture。〃
〃Ah！ spare my modesty。 I thank you for your excellent opinion of me；
I should warn you that I am accused of being greedy after gain。 You will
leave some of the feathers from your wings between my fingers。〃
For a reply M。 Langis significantly patted the porte…monnaie which he
held in his hand； and which was literally stuffed with bank…notes。
Immediately Samuel took from a locked drawer a casket； and proceeded to
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open it。
〃This is a very precious gem；〃 he said。 〃The medallion is gold； and the
work on the miniature is exquisite。 It is a master…piecethe colour equals
the design。 The mouth is marvellously rendered。 Mengs or Liotard could
not have done better。 At what do you value this work of art？〃
〃You are more of a connoisseur than I。 I will leave it to your own
valuation。〃
〃I will let you have the trinket for five thousand francs； it is almost
nothing。〃
Camille began to draw out the five thousand francs from his porte…
monnaie。 〃How prompt you are！〃 remarked Samuel。 〃The portrait has not
only a value as a work of art； I am sure you attach a sentimental value to it；
for I suspect you of being head and ears in love with the original。〃
〃I find you too greedy；〃 replied Camille； casting on him a crushing
glance。
〃Do not be angry。 I am accustomed to exercise methodical precision in
business affairs。 My father always sold at a fixed price； and I； too； never
lower my charges。 You will readily understand that what is worth five
thousand francs to a friend is worth double to a lover。 This gem is worth
ten thousand francs。 You can take it or leave it。〃
〃I will take it；〃 replied M。 Langis。
〃Since we agree；〃 continued Samuel； 〃I possess still other articles
which might suit you。〃
〃Why； do you think of selling me your clothing？〃
〃Let us come to an understanding。 I have other articles of the same
lot。〃
And he brought from a closet the red hood； which he spread out on the
table。
〃Here is an article of clothingto use your own wordsthat may be of
interest to you。 Its colour is beautiful； if you saw it in the sunshine； it
would dazzle you。 I grant that the stuff is commonit is very ordinary
cashmerebut if you deign to examine it closely； you will be struck by the
peculiar perfume that it exhales。 The Italians call it '/l'odor femminino/。' 〃
〃And what is your rate of charge for the '/odor femminino/？' 〃
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〃I will be moderate。 I will let you have this article and its perfume for
five thousand francs。 It is actually giving it away。〃
〃Assuredly。 We will say ten and fivethat makes fifteen thousand。〃
〃One moment。 You can pay for all together。 I have other things to offer
you。 One would say that the floor burned your feet； and that you could not
endure being in this room。〃
〃I allow that I long to leave thiswhat shall I say？this shop； lair； or
den。〃
〃You are young； monsieur； it never does to hurry； haste causes us acts
of forgetfulness that we afterwards regret。 You would be sorry not to take
away with you these two scraps of paper。〃
At these words he drew from his note…book two letters； which he
unfolded。
〃Is there much more？〃 demanded Camille。 〃I fear that I shall become
short of funds； and be obliged to go back for more。〃
〃Ah！ these two letters； I will not part with them for a trifle； the second
especially。 It is only twelve lines in length； but what pretty English
handwriting！ Only see！ and the style is loving and tender。 I will add that it
is signed。 Ah！ monsieur； Mlle。 Moriaz will be charmed to see these
scrawls again。 Under what obligations she will be to you！ You will make
the most of it； you will tell her that you wrested them from me； your
dagger at my throatthat you terrified me。 With what a gracious smile she
will reward your heroism！ According to my opinion； that smile is as well
worth ten thousand francs as the medallionthe two gems are of equal
value。〃
〃If you want more； it makes no difference。〃
〃No； monsieur； I have told you I have only one price。〃
〃At this rate； it is twenty…five thousand francs that I owe you。 You have
nothing more to sell me？〃
〃Alas！ that is all。〃
〃Will you swear it？〃
〃What； monsieur！ you admit； then； that Samuel Brohl has a word of
honourthat when he has sworn； he can be believed？〃
〃You are right； I am still very young。〃
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〃That is all； then； I swear to you；〃 affirmed Samuel； sighing。 〃My shop
is poorly stocked； I had begun laying in a supply； but an unfortunate
accident deranged my little business。〃
〃Bah！ be consoled；〃 replied M。 Langis； 〃you will find another
opportunity； a genius of such lofty flights as yours never is at a loss。 You
have been unfortunate； some day Fortune will compensate you for the
wrongs she has done you； and the world will accord justice to your fine
talents。〃
Speaking thus； he laid on the table twenty…five notes of a thousand
francs each。 He counted them； Samuel counted them after him； and at once
delivered to him the medallion； the hood； and the two letters。
Camille rose to leave。 〃Monsieur Brohl；〃 he said； 〃from the first day I
saw you； I formed the highest opinion of your character。 The reality
surpasses my expectations。 I am charmed to have made your acquaintance；
and I venture to hope that you are not sorry to have made mine。 However；
I shall not say； /au revoir/。〃
〃Who knows？〃 replied Samuel； suddenly changing his countenance
and attitude。 And he added； 〃If you are fond of being astonished； monsieur；
will you remain still another instant in this den？〃
He rolled and twisted the twenty…five one…thousand…franc notes into
lamp…lighters； then； with a grand gesture； /a la Poniatowski/； he
approached the candle； held them in the flame until they blazed； and then
threw them on the hearth； where they were soon consumed。
Turning towards M。 Langis； he cried； 〃Will you now do me the honour
of fighting with me？〃
〃After such a noble act as that； I can refuse you nothing；〃 returned
Camille。 〃I will do you that signal honour。〃
〃Just what I desire；〃 replied Samuel。 〃I am the offended； I have the
choice of arms。〃 And； in showing M。 Langis out； he said； 〃I will not
conceal from you that I have frequented the shooting…galleries； and that I
am a first…class pistol…shot。〃
Camille bowed and went out。
The next day； in a lucid interval； Mlle。 Moriaz saw at the foot of her
bed a medallion laid on a red hood。 From that moment the physician
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announced an improvement in her symptoms。
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CHAPTER XII
Six days after these events； Samuel Brohl； having passed through
Namur and Liege without stopping at either place； arrived by rail at Aix…
la… Chapelle。 He went directly to the Hotel Royal； close to the railroad…
station； he ordered a hearty dinner to be served him； which he washed
down with foaming champagne。 He had an excellent appetite； his soul
kept holiday； his heart was expanded； inflated with joy； and his brain
intoxicated。 He had revenged himself； he had meted out justice to that
insolent fellow； his rival。 Mlle。 Moriaz did not belong to Samuel Brohl；
but she never would belong to Camille Langis。 Near the Franco… Belgian
frontier； on the verge of a forest； a man had been shot in the brea
